68 THE FINCHES 



in the Azores. The chaffinch is abundant throughout Great Britain, and is found 

 even on the smaller islands, including the Inner Hebrides, Orkneys, and excep- 

 tionally the Shetlands. It is considered to be the commonest land-bird in 

 Ireland. [A. L. T.] 



3. Migration. It is both resident and migrant. Its migrations appear to be 

 practically identical with those of the greenfinch already described, but the south- 

 ward emigration in autumn, and the corresponding spring immigration on the south 

 coast of England are more marked (vide antea, p. 64 ; and cf. Brit. Assoc. Report, 

 1896, pp. 456, 460, and 464 ; W. Eagle Clarke, Ibis, 1902, pp. 252, 256, and 266, 

 and 1904, pp. 119 and 138 ; and B. 0. C. Migration Reports, i. p. 125, ii. p. 178, and 

 iii. pp. 181 and 192). [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Nesting place : hedges, bushes, or trees, generally from 

 4-15 feet high. Nest: very neatly built of felted moss, wool, grasses, etc., decorated 

 externally with lichens and lined with hair and feathers. (PL 14.) It is constructed 

 by the hen, though the cock is said to help in bringing material. The eggs, usually 

 4-6 in number, are pale greenish stone colour, with a few "brand-spots" and streaks 

 of dark purple-brown. Some eggs have only pale cloudings of light brown, while 

 others have a bright blue ground, sometimes unmarked, or with very dark markings. 

 Average size of 100 eggs, '76 x *57 in. [19 '3 x 14 6 mm.]. (PL B.) Laying begins in 

 mid- April. The hen usually incubates, but is habitually relieved each day by the 

 cock according to Naumann, occasionally so according to others (T. H. Nelson, 

 B. of Yorkshire, etc. ; A. Taylor, in litt.). Period of incubation 11-14 days. In an 

 incubator 11-12 days (W. Evans, Ibis, 1891). The young remain in the nest about 

 two weeks (S. E. Brock, in litt.). Broods 1-2. [F. c. R. J. F. B. K.] 



5. Food. Seeds, berries, buds, kernels of fruit, insects and their eggs. The 

 young are fed on insects, possibly seeds, by both parents. [F. B. K.] 



6. Song Period. From January to July, and on fine days in autumn 

 and winter. [F. B. K.] 



BRAMBLING [Fringilla montifringilla, Linnaeus. Bramble-finch, mountain- 

 finch, furze-chirper, cock-o'-the-north, oversea-lenny, French-linnet. French, 

 pinson des montagnes, pinson des Ardennes ; German, Bergfink]. 



I. Description. Distinguished by its chestnut throat and breast, white 

 rump conspicuous in flight, and the blue back feathers of the head and mantle, 

 which in winter have ruddy brown edgings. Length 6 in. [152 mm.]. Young 

 males in whiter are paler. The female is brownish grey mottled with 



